The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-12-31
Artificial Light.
From the Boston Herald.


hfty, met recently, and in introducing the
principal speaker of the evening, Mr.. Rich
ard j Monks, treasurer of the South Boston
Gaslight Company, the presiding officer
alluded to him as one of class to whom so
much is due-specialists- have rarely
received the payment due to them, who
have given their lives to the study of their
art.
Mr.. Monks said that the subject of arti-
ficial light was very large and worthy of
series of lectures, as it ought to be covered
He referred to the worship Of the orbs by
the aneients. The Incas claimed to be
children of the sun. Light of some sort
was associated with those who expected
some return from their duty. The prac-
tice of fires in open spaces was common in
ancient times. AS civilization advanced
lamp laws were passed to prohibit bonfres
For centuries bonfires were common with
the Celtic natives in Europe, especially at
festival times Beacon fires were often
used as signals. Their use is mentioned in
the Greek tragedy of "Agamemnon" In
Spain taxes were levied to sustain beaeons
at the time Of the Armada. In the book
of Jeremiah, in the Bible, there is an allu-
sion to the fire signal. There was mast
and tar barrel on Beacon Hill. 1t was
never used and was blown down in 1879.
The use of whale oil originated with the
NOrwegians. In 1850 the Dutch had 200
vessels, employing 1900 men, in the bus
iness. In New England the whales we're
caught from small boats, The Indians
engaged with avidity in the hunt for whales,
In 1858 there were GOO vessels of 900, 900
tons burden engaged in the American whale
fishery, The argand lamp was first used
in 1900. The decline in whale fishery was
due to the discovery of oil in Pennsylvania
Candles were spoken of first in remote
period. Their use really began in the early
history of Christianity. AS late as the !
sixteenth century their use was limited, |
In spite of modern methods the candle is
used for certain purposes, and the soft |
light cannot fail to please the eye. The |
honor and merit of the first application of |
coal gas seems to belong to VIM. Murdock,
of Redworth, Cornwall In 1902 he lighted |
an extensive manufacturing establishment |
France also claimed the honor of Its first
demonstration, but not satisfactorily. Jan,
uary ga, 1907, saw number of London
streets lighted by gas The amount of
92O 900 was raised, and the King petit
toned for the incorporation Of company.
Two companies supply London at 20 cents
per 1000 cubic feet, and their capital is
Sd0,0O0,000. Coal gas was first used in
Baltimore in 1916, and for some time its
progress was slow and unsatisfactory. Now
there are over | 200 works in the United
States, furnishing employment to oyer 25,-
900 men, portion beiag for the manufae-
ture Of water gas.
In 1908 Frenchman discovered the
process by which water gas was made, In
1875 Prof. Lowe established the first works
in the United States. The business has
increased enormously here, but not always,
because hard coal and naptha are so ex-
peasiYe. Natural gas has been known and
extensively used in Asia and China for
long time. History tells us of a well in
France in the time of Julius Caesar. The
first in the United States was in Charleston
The Taylor House in Fredonia, N. Y, was
illuminated in 1924 in honor of Lafayette.
A few years ago gas well was discovered
in Ocean Spray, near this city Boston,.
The nature and efficiency of natural gas is
but partly understood.
Petroleum was known to mankind from
the dawn of history, 1t was spoken of in
Sweden in 1850. In Western Pennsyl-
vania It was found on the ground, and used
as medicine many years before wells were
bored. In 1883 well 72 feet deep yielded
more than 1000 barrels day. Then a
reckless spirit of speculation arose. It en-
riched few, while it ruined thousands.
The standard drill is Ave and one-half
Inches, the flow being as great from small
as from large hole. In 1880 the pro-
duction amounted to 25,000,O00 barrels,
and the stock on hand June l, 1880, was
valued at S11 100000. Russia has val
liable deposits at Baku, long known. but
just put to commercial use, The value of
exports thence ia 1883 was Sla,000,000.
In Russia they are ahead of America, in
being able to use the residuum of petro-
leum, So abundant is the oil in Baku that
work can be carried on by its flame in taa
night, and the oozins of the oil from the
ground prevents dpas,
Ia cohcluding, Mr.. Monks said that he
had heard a great deal said about the size
of the statue of Liberty on Bedloe's Island
as being the highest statue ever known in
modern or ancient times, To test this he
had made a scale of the lighthouse Pharos,
which had stood in the harbor Of Alexan-
dria, and was regarded as one of the seven
wonders of the world, making his eOmpu-
tations from the account IN Josephus and
judging from the distance it could be seen
at sea, Placing the model of Pharos
against model of the statue of Liberty,
the former was seen to be much the higher
of the two.
What Glass Eyes Cost.